Apparatus for teaching acrobatics



Feb. 7, 1950 C. P. POND APPARATUS FOR TEACHING ACROBATICS Filed June 12, 1947 Charles P Pond.

Attorney I Patented Feb. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES j PATENT OFFICE 7.

APPARATUS FOR TEACHING ACROBATIC Charles P. Pond, Dallas, Tex. i

Application June 12, 1947, Serial No. 754,308

7 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to exercising apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for teaching acrobatics.

The principal object of the present invention is to develop an apparatus for teaching the art of aerial tumbling in all phases, such as forward,

' backward, side tumbling, twisting, or any other type of tumbling movements.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for teaching acrobatics controlled by the instructor, which while providing safety will also give the student freedom of movement in substantially all directions and whereby as the student becomes more accomplished in the art, the instructor can release his control over the apparatus entirely.

Yet another object is to develop an apparatus of the class above referred to which not only is highly efficient in action, but which is also economical to manufacture, durable and easily repaired. i

The above and other objects and novel features of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. Reference should be had to the appended claims to determine the limits of the present invention.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a top plan view of the exercising apparatus with a portion in cross section.

Figure 2 is a general perspective of the apparatus mounted from pulleys in the ceiling of a gymnasium or the like.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross section view of the bearings and bearing rings.

Figure 4 is a transverse cross section taken along the line 5- l of Figure 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings and first with special reference to Figure 2, the apparatus comprises a unit A adapted to be secured around the students waist and the unit in turn is secured to master control cables Ill and H, which are strung through pulleys l4 and E5 in the ceiling B of any suitable enclosure. The ends C of the cables are free to be held by the instructor while the student is performing to thereby provide for master control of the student by the instructor at all times during the performance.

More specifically the apparatus comprises a pair of concentrically positioned rings l6 and ll. Each of these rings contains a half groove 18 and IS, the outerring I! having its groove around its inner side and the inner ring l6 having its groove l9 facing the groove I8, see Figure 4. With the rings thus positioned, there is provided an annular openingin which are mounted a series of ball bearings 2|].

The bearings 20 are inserted in the annular opening by way of an opening 2|, formed in the rings. This opening is normally closed by one of a pair of diametrically opposite hasp members 23 and 24 to which the cables I I] and II are secured. The hasp members comprise a U-shaped base 26 formed with openings adapted to receive bolts 21, to thereby secure the same to the outer ring [1.

Riveted at spaced intervals to the inner ring it are radial straps 30 with intermediate buckles 3| for adjustment purposes. Each of these straps are alike and lead to a center belt 32 within the confines of the rings l6 and IT. The belt 32 is made with a buckle or fastener 33 for adjustment to the waist of the student to use the apparatus. Also, further adjustment to the students waist is provided for by the buckles 3| on the radial straps 30. o

In operation, when the belt 32 and radial straps 30 have been adjusted to fit the student and the cables 10 and I I are in position through the ceiling mounted pulleys, the instructor will grasp the free ends of the control cables at C. The instructor, however, at this stage permits the cables 14 and IE to be slack to run through the pulleys and merely prepares to pull on the cables if the student appears to be likely to be injured.

Assuming the student is to make a flying aerial twist, he will proceed as though he did not have the apparatus on and as he twists his body to I execute the flying twist, the ball bearings 20 will permit the inner ring l6 and its attachments including the student's body to freely swivel in the outer ring l'l.) Also, if the student is to turn an aerial somersault, then the flexibility of the control cables l0 and II at the hasps 23 and 24 will permit freedom of action for this performance.

Thus there is provided an apparatus for teaching acrobatic stunts, which is at all times under the control of an instructor for preventing possible injuries to the students. ratus is so arranged that the students body is free for all motions inside the belt even though the apparatus is controlled by the instructor to protect the student from injury.

Without further description it is thought that the novel features and advantages will be readily Also, this appa-' outer rings, the inner of said rings being cone nected to the said belt, said inner ring thereby being freely rotatable withcthe. body: of thelstudent within the outer of said rings, and instructor controlled cable means secured to the outer por-' tion of said unit and running through ceiling,

suspended pulleys, the free ends of said cables being manipulatable by the instructor to permit the student to freely turn forwardly, backwardly "and twisting either direction while suspended.

2. Apparatus for teaching acrobatics, comprising a unit adapted to be secured to the waist of astudent, said unit including an inner belt por- =tionfor gripping the waist of the student and an outer portion including a pair of concentric rings rotatably movable with respect to each other, means for connecting the inner ring of said concentric rings to.-said belt portion, and --means on the outerring for receiving an instructorssuspending connection.

*3. Means for teachingacrobatics controlled by an instructor, comprisinga unit adapted to encircle a students waist and permit twisting of 'the students body in all directions, and master control cable means secured to said unit and running through ceilingsuspended pulleys, the free ends: of said cables being manipulatable by 'the instructor, said unitv comprising a belt for encircling a students waist, a pair of concentrically arranged rings, said inner ring being "formed around its outer circumference with a bearing surface and said outer ring being formed around its inner circumference with a bearing 'surface positioned opposite said bearing surface of the inner ring, bearings mounted on the bearing surfaces permitting turning of the rings rela- 's'tive to'each other, means connecting the inner ring to said belt, and means connecting the outer ring to said cables.

4. Apparatus for teaching acrobatics under =manual control ofan instructor, comprising a 'pair of concentric rings formed with opposed bearing grooves, ball bearings in the grooves between the rings adapted to hold them together and permit turning of the rings relative to each other, diametrically opposite hasp members secured to the outer of said rings connected to instructor-controlled cables, and radially extending straps secured at one end at spaced intervals 5. Apparatus for teaching acrobatics, comprising a pair of concentric rings formed with 0pposed bearing grooves, ball bearings in the grooves between the rings adapted to hold them together and permit turning of the rings relative to each other, diametrically opposite hasp members secured to the outer of said rings connected to instructor-controlled cables, flexible means secured at spaced intervals to the inner of said rings and to a belt for encircling the students waist, and means for adjusting the apparatus to fit the student.

6. Apparatus for teaching tumbling, comprising a unit adapted to be secured to the waist of a student, said unit being made from a pair of inner and outer rings, said inner ring being formed around its outer circumference with a bearing surface and said outer ring being formed around its inner circumference with a bearing surface positioned opposite said bearing surface ::of the inner ring, bearings mounted on the bearing surfaces permitting turning of the rings relative to each other, said outer ring carrying dia- "metrically opposite'hasp members, and instruc- 'torcontrolledcables secured to said hasps, said inner ring yieldably connecting with an adjustacble waist encircling member for the student to wear.

'7. Apparatus for teaching tumbling, comprising a unit adapted to besecured to the waist of a student, said unit being made from a pair of inner and outer rings, said inner ring being 'formed around its outer circumference with a bearing surface and said outer ring being formed around its inner circumference with a bearing surface positioned opposite said bearing surface of the inner ring, bearings mounted on the bearing surfaces permitting turning of the rings relative to each other, said outer ring carrying diametrically opposite hasp members for connection 'to instructor-controlled cables and said inner ring carrying an adjustable waist encircling .-member for the student to wear, and flexible The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,054,402 Williams Sept. 15, 1936 2,107,377 Howland Feb. 8, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 185,998 Switzerland Nov. 2, 1936 348,103 Italy May 11, 1937 

